Daily Show Co-Creator Jokes Oklahoma Tornado Targeted Conservatives

Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show, is facing serious backlash after attempting to make a topical political joke out of the devastating Oklahoma tornado that has killed at least24 people.Around 4:30 p.m. ET on Monday afternoon, after dozens had ...

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By TV Guide

Wellington Daily News - Wellington, KS

By TV Guide

Posted May. 21, 2013 at 11:22 AM
Updated May 21, 2013 at 8:10 PM

By TV Guide

Posted May. 21, 2013 at 11:22 AM
Updated May 21, 2013 at 8:10 PM

Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show, is facing serious backlash after attempting to make a topical political joke out of the devastating Oklahoma tornado that has killed at least 24 people.Around 4:30 p.m. ET on Monday afternoon, after dozens had already been reported dead after the tornado tore through Moore, Okla., Winstead tweeted: "This tornado is in Oklahoma so clearly it has been ordered to only target conservatives." The tweet received at least 36 favorites and 143 retweets, according to a screengrab, but it has since been deleted. However, Winstead has yet to delete two previous quips about the tornado. "How long has Obama known about this Tornado" Winstead joked, comparing the federal disaster to the recent IRS scandal. "Tornado just bumped me from MSNBC. #Benghazi" she wrote shortly before the now-deleted tweet.Get the latest updates on the Oklahoma tornadoHours later, Winstead apologized for her poor taste in judgement. "Made a political joke, Twas before devastation revealed. In hindsight, had I understood, I would have refrained. Beyond sorry. #LetMeHaveIt" she tweeted. Winstead continued to try and make amends, telling her critics that "it's worth giving me sh--. I was an idiot" and calling her tweet, "Bad joke. Bad timing. Just bad." Winstead then proceeded to tweet multiple ways to donate to tornado relief.Winstead does have one surprising supporter: conservative commenter Glenn Beck. "Leave lizz winstead alone. Clearly bad joke. How many of us has made a joke we wished we could take back? She has to feel awful.#castfirststone" he tweeted Monday night.